U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio has picked up where New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani left
off -- locked in a neck and neck race with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in their U.S.
Senate campaign, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Rep. Lazio has 44
percent to Mrs. Clinton's 44 percent.

Mrs. Clinton had 44 percent to Mayor Giuliani's 43 percent in a May 16 poll by the
independent Quinnipiac University.

Among New York State registered voters supporting Lazio, 29 percent say they strongly
favor the Republican, while 16 percent say they favor him with reservations and 50 percent say
they are voting against Clinton.

Among Clinton voters, 57 percent say they strongly favor her, while 34 percent say they
favor her with reservations and 7 percent say they are voting against Lazio.

From May 30 - June 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 970 New York State registered
voters. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.

"Surprising good news for Rep. Lazio. New to the Senate race, he's in a dead heat with
Mrs. Clinton and already on a par with the Republican he replaced, Mayor Giuliani," said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Lingering bad news for Lazio. Even after the torrent of public attention he's enjoyed,
more than half of New York voters still don't know enough about him to decide whether they
like him."

By a 25 - 8 percent margin, voters statewide have a favorable opinion of Lazio, with 8
percent mixed and 58 percent saying they don't know enough to form an opinion.

Clinton's favorability is 35 - 39 percent, with 22 percent mixed and 3 percent saying
they don't know enough to form an opinion. This is down slightly from her 37 - 35 percent
favorability in the May 16 poll.

Mayor Giuliani's favorability is 42 - 27 percent, with 22 percent mixed and 7 percent
saying they don't know enough to form an opinion, one of his highest scores statewide.

"On the ideological scale, 55 percent of voters label Clinton a liberal. One-third of
voters aren't sure about Lazio yet, but 32 percent call him a moderate and 26 percent call him a conservative," Carroll said.

New York State voters are split 47 - 46 percent on whether Clinton has "the right kind
of experience to be a Senator from New York."

By a 49 - 14 percent margin, with 37 percent undecided, voters say Lazio has "the right
kind of experience."

Thirty-eight percent of voters say education is the issue they most want discussed by the candidates, while 26 percent list taxes and 23 percent list health care or health care costs.

Abortion should be generally available, 50 percent of voters say, while 34 percent say
there should be some limits on abortion and 13 percent say abortion should not be permitted.
Only 23 percent of voters support so-called "partial birth abortion," while 63 percent say it
should be banned except when needed to save the life of the mother.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or (203) 582-5201

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his
job as Governor of New York?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 62% 63% 53% 73% 80% 50% 66% 64% 61%

Disapprove 25 24 31 19 11 36 23 24 26

DK/NA 13 13 16 8 8 14 10 12 13

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his
job as President?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 64% 56% 75% 62% 30% 88% 62% 62% 65%

Disapprove 32 40 21 33 64 10 33 35 30

DK/NA 4 4 4 5 5 2 5 3 5

4. How much attention have you been paying to the election campaign for
United States Senator from New York -- a lot, some, only a little, or
none at all?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

A lot 45% 41% 46% 50% 51% 46% 42% 48% 44%

Some 36 40 33 34 32 35 40 34 38

Only a little 14 13 15 12 11 15 13 14 13

None at all 5 5 5 4 6 4 5 4 5

DK/NA - - - - - - - - -

5. Is your opinion of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable,
unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 42% 41% 38% 50% 65% 27% 43% 48% 37%

Unfavorable 27 18 41 25 9 43 22 22 30

Mixed 22 25 18 23 15 24 25 22 23

Hvn't hrd enough 7 12 3 2 8 5 8 5 8

DK/NA 2 4 1 - 3 1 2 3 2

6. Is your opinion of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable,
mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 35% 32% 45% 30% 12% 60% 25% 28% 41%

Unfavorable 39 42 30 45 69 13 46 49 32

Mixed 22 22 21 24 15 23 26 20 24

Hvn't hrd enough 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2

DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1 - 1

7. Is your opinion of New York Congressman Rick Lazio favorable, unfavorable,
mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 25% 25% 18% 33% 42% 12% 26% 29% 22%

Unfavorable 8 5 12 8 3 14 5 9 7

Mixed 8 6 9 11 5 11 7 9 7

Hvn't hrd enough 58 64 58 47 49 61 60 52 62

DK/NA 1 - 2 - - 2 - - 2

8. If the election for United States Senator were being held today and the
candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and Rick Lazio the
Republican for whom would you vote?

9. Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the
election?

Clinton Lazio
Tot Voters Voters

Made up 72% 65% 79%

Might change 26 34 19

DK/NA 2 2 1

10. Would you describe your support for Clinton/Lazio as strongly favoring
her/him, or do you like Clinton/Lazio but with reservations, or do you support
Clinton/Lazio because you dislike the other candidate?

Clinton Lazio
Tot voters voters

Strongly favor 43% 57% 29%

Like with reservations 25 34 16

Dislike other candidate 29 7 50

DK/NA 4 3 5

12. What are the issues or problems that you most want to hear the candidates
for United States Senator from New York talk about during the campaign?
(Percentages may add to more than 100% because respondents were allowed to give
up to three responses.)